Some things are worth waiting for—and that includes your dream kitchen
A kitchen remodel takes six weeks to four months.
It can take weeks to source custom, exotic, or back-ordered materials.
Major structural changes can add two to five weeks to your project.
Most people can’t use their kitchen for six weeks (despite ongoing renovations).
Nobody wants to make coffee in a floorless kitchen wrapped in plastic and covered in construction debris—but patience is a virtue when it comes to kitchen renovation timelines. Most homeowners know that large renovations take time, but exactly how long does a kitchen remodel take? Even a minor remodel for a small kitchen can take a few weeks. Let’s take a closer look at the stages of a kitchen remodel.
For most homeowners, a kitchen remodel takes six weeks to four months. The timeline varies based on the complexity of the project. You could spend six weeks installing new countertops and cabinets on the low end, as long as they’re in stock. On the high end, it could take six months to settle the planning, procurement, construction, and red tape.
Meanwhile, you’ll likely still be able to use your kitchen during most of the renovation. It’s typically only out of commission for around 6 weeks—so plan your takeout meals and temporary kitchen setup accordingly. Pizza is great, but it will get old after a while.
A few aesthetic changes or adding in new appliances won’t take long to finish, but your kitchen renovation timeline will increase if you add in more customized changes or start tearing down walls. Here’s a look at how long the remodel will take based on the scale of renovation.
Minor kitchen remodel projects generally take about four to eight weeks to complete, assuming you don’t run into major setbacks. If you’re overhauling your kitchen with new appliances, cabinetry, and flooring, expect to wait about two months from demolition to completion. As long as you aren’t changing the layout or redoing any plumbing or electrical, one to two months is a feasible timeline for small-scale remodels. You can even cut back on the timeline if you opt to do some DIY work, such as painting or laying flooring.
Maybe you want to add a kitchen island or change your cabinetry to a more customized option. In this instance, your remodel could take eight to ten weeks until you can get back in the kitchen. This type of remodel likely includes upgrading all of your appliances, kitchen lighting, fixtures, cabinetry, countertops, and flooring. Since you aren’t changing the layout or knocking down any walls, you won’t have to wait for permitting or inspections, which makes the timeline shorter than a major reno.
A complete kitchen remodel includes the works—moving plumbing, electrical, gas lines, installing luxury countertops and high-end appliances, and changing the footprint of the space. Because this type of renovation is so extensive, you can expect it to take about five to six months, even longer if you have any delays on appliances or materials. In this case, you’re likely tearing walls out and starting with a clean slate, so it’s going to take longer to rebuild the kitchen to your exact preferences.
The best time to undertake a kitchen remodel is during the winter off-peak season, when you can get the best deal on contractors and suppliers. Pros may be more willing to negotiate costs during their slow season, saving you some cash.
But as far as the timeline goes, the best time to renovate depends on your household. For instance, remodeling during the holidays may not be ideal, as families tend to cook more host guests. Also, If a household has a busy schedule during certain months due to work, school, or other commitments, it may be wise to avoid planning a remodel during those times to minimize disruptions.
How long it takes to remodel a kitchen depends on many factors. Organization and planning are key—and this kitchen remodel checklist can help—but wait times are often inevitable. Here are some factors that will affect your overall timeline:
Choosing custom countertops and cabinetry: Customizations don’t just add to the total cost of your kitchen remodel. They can take weeks to design, source, and build. Going with prefabricated options is quicker all around.
Choosing specialty tiling and materials: Exotic high-end materials will take longer to procure than common materials. Popular finishes, styles, and materials are typically in-stock and ready to ship or have short manufacturing times.
Items on backorder: Expect to wait weeks to months for back-ordered items.
Labor shortages: Recent labor and material shortages have led to shipping, procurement, and construction delays. In some cases, this snag could add weeks to the timeline.
Design changes: Changing your design when construction is already in progress will significantly add to your kitchen renovation timeline.
Permitting delays: Some areas are still experiencing pandemic- or labor-related processing delays.
Renovations happen in stages—from the initial design process to the final walkthrough. Here’s the typical timeline for each stage. You might sail right through, but always prepare for a snag.
Before you build, you’ll need to design your kitchen. Hiring a kitchen designer costs between $5,000 and $31,750, but these pros know how to make the correct structural and aesthetic changes. Ideally, they’ll provide drawings or 3D renderings to give you a full picture.
Don’t know where to start? It’s always worth looking online for trendy kitchen design ideas.
The success of the remodel depends on the contractor, which is why it’s essential to hire a local kitchen remodeler who is skilled and reliable. Always interview at least three contractors, ask for references, and ensure the pro is on board with your kitchen designer’s ideas. Discuss your project timeline and budget with them to ensure you’re on the same page.
Before construction, you may need to get a permit to remodel a kitchen and or ask for permission from your local homeowner’s association. Permit requirements vary based on location, and approval typically takes a few weeks. If getting your permit takes longer than expected, you may have to deal with some building delays. You’ll probably need a permit if you plan to:
Making structural changes
Adding or rerouting plumbing
Adding or adapting electrical wiring
Making changes to your ventilation system
The best way to make a kitchen look expensive is to source the right materials. During this process, you’ll pick everything from your exact fixtures to your countertop materials, backsplash tiles, flooring, cabinetry, and paint. Some items ship quicker than others. Most of the time, you can expect to wait a few weeks—but it could take months if a product is back-ordered or delayed.
To build your new kitchen, your contractor has to remove your old kitchen. This step of the process includes knocking down walls, ripping up cabinetry, and removing flooring.
Construction is where the magic happens—how your dream kitchen becomes your actual kitchen. This process starts with structural changes, like building a new kitchen island or walls. Depending on your design, your contractor may also need to reroute your plumbing and do electrical work. Here’s what you can expect:
Rerouting or installing electricity and plumbing: One to four days
Major structural changes: Two to five weeks
Flooring and cabinet installation: One to two weeks
Countertop fabrication and installation: One to two weeks
Painting and backsplash installation: Two to three days
At this phase, your contractor will put the finishing touches on your renovation. This step includes installing lighting fixtures, cabinetry hardware, and appliances like your sink, stove, cooktop, and refrigerator.
From dust to demolition debris, construction makes a mess. Luckily, the clean-up process only takes about a day, as long as you don’t uncover any unpleasant surprises underneath the debris. As soon as your kitchen is clean, you can give it a final walkthrough.
Your local kitchen remodeling pro should be able to make most last-minute changes, like fixing a wonky cabinet door or a paint smudge, in a couple of days. Still, major issues like waiting for back-ordered items may take a few weeks.
To expedite your kitchen remodel, you can take proactive steps to ensure efficiency and timely completion.
Ordering materials well in advance is crucial to avoid delays. This includes cabinetry, countertops, appliances, and fixtures. Planning ahead can mitigate the risk of backorders or long delivery times to ensure everything arrives on schedule for the renovation.
Clear and effective communication with contractors is essential. Establish open lines of communication from the first meeting and regularly communicate your expectations, preferences, and any changes or adjustments to the project scope. This helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures everyone is on the same page, ultimately streamlining the renovation process.
Preparing the kitchen space before remodeling can significantly speed up the process. This involves clearing out cabinets and countertops, removing appliances, and creating a clean and accessible workspace for contractors. Doing this ahead of time means contractors can immediately begin work upon arrival, eliminating unnecessary delays and expediting the overall renovation timeline.
Melissa Graham contributed to this piece.
